Patent GB-936841-A (GB)
Title: Automatic vending machine
IPC: G07F5/22
Filed: 1960-02-10
Abstract: 936,841. Coin-freed vending apparatus. E. K. ZINDEL. Feb. 10, 1960 [Feb. 10, 1959], No. 4785/60. Class 27. An electric computing control unit in an automatic vending machine comprises a goods selector 11, Fig. 2, connected through an adjustable price list P, to a seeker I which receives pulses from a pulse analyser 15, corresponding to the money introduced and releases the goods by way of a relay F when the money introduced reaches the amount indicated in the price list, any pulses in excess of the amount so indicated being passed to a store 22 which is scanned by a second seeker II controlling an ejector G 5 -G 50 , MA 5 -MA 50  of the excess money. On the front of the machine are two lists W, P, Fig. 1, specifying respectively the goods on sale and corresponding prices, a dial 8 for selecting the goods according to the number in the list W, slots 2, 3, 4 for coins of different denominations, a return coin slot 5 and five control lamps which light up to give directions about when to select goods and insert money, when not enough money and sufficient money has been inserted and when the selected goods are sold out. An item of goods dialled on the dial 8 results in pulses to operate through relays WR, NSR, Fig. 2, the goods selector 11 which is connected through the goods list W<SP>1</SP> and associated price list P<SP>1</SP> (which are the electrical equivalents of the lists W, P, Fig. 1) to the seeker I. Money inserted in the slots 2, 3, 4, Fig. 1, passes to a tester 12, Fig. 2, having a lock 14 operated by a magnet MPM controlled by a relay MPR to convey the inserted money to the return slot 5, or on to tiltable flaps 13, operated by a relay HK to pass the coins either to a cash register K or the return slot 5. The coins reaching the cash register K are arranged in various stores according to their value and may be ejected singly from these stores by magnetic ejectors MA 5 - MA 50  controlled by relays G 5 -G 50 . Disposed at the end of each sorting groove of the tester 12 is a contact which is closed by the appropriate coin to deliver one pulse per coin to the pulse analyser 15, where rotary switches 17 operated by relays 16 convert the pulse from a particular coin into a given number of pulses proportional to the value of the coin concerned. The output from the analyser 15 is transmitted to the seeker I which compares the value of the inserted coins with the price of the goods selected and initiates delivery if this price is attained. Also provided are a timer 18 and a relay R which controls the resetting of the machine. The goods are arranged in galleries 19 having exploring means 20 to indicate the presence of the goods. In operation, the dial 8 controls a selector in the goods selector 11 so as to connect the selector to a particular contact of a rotary switch SA (not shown) in the seeker I corresponding to the price of the goods. The dial also starts the timer 18 running at a " slow " rate. If no goods are present, the exploring means 20 closes a circuit to a relay in the timer 18 causing it to go " fast " and lights up the " goods sold out " lamp Wa, Fig. 1; at the conclusion of the run of the timer the machine is reset. If the selected goods are present the circuit remains open and a relay in the goods selector 11 lights up a lamp Ge indicating " insert money " and opens the coin slot lock 14. Money now inserted into the slots passes to the tiltable flaps 13, generating pulses in transit and pulses proportional in number pass to the seeker I to turn the rotary switch SA. If the money inserted is below the price indicated by the switch SA, a circuit including a lamp Wg indicating " not enough money " is not broken and the timer 18 continues its run until it closes a connection to the relay HK which operates the flaps 13 to eject the inserted money and also resets the machine. 'If enough money has been inserted, the rotary switch S A  closes a circuit through the goods selector 11 to the relay F which operates the means 21 to eject the selected goods, breaks the circuits to the lamp W g  and timer 18 and lights up a lamp Ga to indicate " enough money." Any further pulses from the analyser 15, corresponding to excess money inserted, are introduced into the store 22 direct. This store comprises a rotary switch having its contacts suitably connected to a 6-part rotary switch constituting the second seeker II, the latter switch being suitably connected to the relay group G 5 -G 50 . Surplus pulses pass into the store to rotate the switch a corresponding number of steps, so energizing certain of the fixed contacts of the seeker II, and when this seeker is rotated, each moving contact energizes a corresponding relay G 5 -G 50  when passing an energized contact to eject the appropriate coins. At the conclusion of the run of the seeker II the machine is reset to its original position.